Lady Hilltoppers tighten the leash on Bulldogs

By Kelsie Hoitomt

BOYCEVILLE — For the first time in seven years, the Glenwood City girls’ basketball team defeated the Lady Bulldogs in a 42-36 victory.

It was an all-out battle between the two teams with elbows and bodies flailing around and fouls being called left and right, which made for an intense but entertaining game, to say the least.

The scores remained close throughout the game until the final minutes in the fourth quarter. The Bulldogs had a slight lead of 9-7 after the first quarter and then the Toppers took the lead at the half 20-17.

The game intensified in the second half with harder hits under the net and more risks being taken with three point shots.

Alexa Peterson drained a three in the third quarter to tie the game at 25-25, but the quarter ended with a basket by Jen Kopacz to put the score at 27-25 going into the fourth.

The game turned to pure defense in the fourth quarter and the Toppers applied more pressure which kept the Bulldogs from reaching the net and putting down shots.

Abbey Bird tried several shots from the three point line and was able to connect with one early in the quarter which helped close the score gap to within three points.

The Bulldogs took the lead by a point after Bird stole the ball and broke away for a shot under the net.

However, frustration set in with the Bulldogs towards the end of the game, which resulted in fouls and the Toppers getting over 15 free throw shots. In the final two minutes alone, Kopacz, Janessa Ullom and Moriah Kuehndorf each stood at the foul line, which helped to seal the victory.

The Toppers had a total of 32 chances at the free throw line with only 15 of those making it through the net. The Bulldogs on the other hand had 19 chances at the line with nine attempts actually making it.

“Once again we sent our opponent to the free throw line too many times. We are not a high powered offense and need to rely on playing solid team defense to put ourselves in a position to win games. Unfortunately our lack of effort made this task to big to handle. Credit goes to the Glenwood team for working hard from the beginning to the end of the game,” said Boyceville coach Jolene Bird.

Bird was the points leader for the game and star of the night for the Bulldogs with 20 points scored from five deuces, two threes sand four free throws.

Collecting the rest of the team’s points were April Lake with six points, Kysa Franseen with four points, Peterson with three points, Kennedy Hellmann had two points and Brooklynn Blaser had a point.

Olivia Weidling was the game leader for the Hilltoppers as she shined through with her ability to push past defenders and toss the ball up to the net. She had 14 points from four deuces and six free throws.

Also assisting in the victory was Kopacz who had 12 points from two deuces, one three and five free throws. Ullom had eight points, Kristie Knops had five points, Morgan Kadinger had two points and Moriah Kuehndorf had a point.

“I thought the girls were focused and played with intensity for four quarters. We played solid defensively and rebounded better than we have recently. We still have a lot of things to work on, but also have to be happy with a big win against a good team that is coached well,” shared Hilltopper coach Justin Kuehndorf.